AADE signs memorandum with British authorities against smuggling and customs crime

Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with three key British institutions — HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA) — to strengthen cooperation against cross-border economic crime, smuggling and customs fraud, as eKathimerini reports.

The memorandum, made public on September 30, 2026, according to eKathimerini’s reporting, provides for the planning and implementation of coordinated operations against common threats, smuggling and customs offences, as well as the exchange of methodologies and the use of data analysis and risk indicators to identify suspicious cargo without disrupting supply chains. The parties also agree to shift the focus toward post-clearance controls, strengthening Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) and encouraging voluntary compliance by businesses.

The agreement also includes, as eKathimerini writes, the exchange of expertise in non-intrusive inspection technologies, truck and container scanning systems and best practices in equipment management, together with joint training programmes, expert exchanges and the digitalisation of procedures — aiming to facilitate legitimate trade alongside strengthening security.

AADE’s head, Giorgos Pitsilis, stressed that for tax and customs authorities international cooperation is vital: “The risks we face extend beyond national borders, while rapid technological developments force us to adapt constantly. The memorandum is not the end, but the beginning of a substantial cooperation that translates into concrete joint actions, an exchange of expertise and mutual benefits for security and trade.”